Local law enforcement says it can’t be everywhere nor should it be, lest we become like a military state and lose our way of life as a free and open society.

Allegheny County Police Superintendent Charles Moffatt says the public has limited patience for security checkpoints and doesn’t want them expanded to all places of public gathering.

And in providing protection, law enforcement must be careful not to impede personal freedoms.

“We always have to keep in mind people’s civil and constitutional rights,” said Moffatt. “We don’t want to trample on people’s rights at the expense of security. It’s a very fine line that the officers walk every day.”

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald agrees, but says unfortunately, individual freedom extends to those who would use it to do harm to others.